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Which One?

Man, get the best one you can afford! I am in the same dilemma over a 200DX or a 350DX. I think I will go ahead and scrape together the coin to get the 350DX and the complete TIG Runner and Torch package.

I don't think my little shoppe will ever outgrow the 350DX but some heavy trailer frame and chassis fabrication might be a little much for the 200DX. Plus you get much more control over your processes with the higher end machines.

I don't think you can go wrong with either machine and as a bonus, they will both run off of a 220/50A circuit.

I was saving for the contractor's kit for my Dyn200. Just ran into the salesman at Costco, he said that contr. kit is air cooled and rated for 150amps. yeesh...With the alum I want to weld, I need 160-175 amps, so its off to a water cooled torch and water cooler for me!!! Oh, btw, I fixed my truck just now! Thought I would have a $500 to a $1,000 fix, but looking at the engine (which I know nothing about), I found 2 small hoses that were brittle and cracked. Replacing it? $2.00 Saving $500??? = priceless....

150amp TIG torch is the right one for the Dyn200

he said that contr. kit is air cooled and rated for 150amps. yeesh...With the alum I want to weld, I need 160-175 amps, so its off to a water cooled torch and water cooler for me!!!
TIG torches are rated at 100% duty cycle, the Dyn 200 is like 40 or 60% duty cycle at 150amps. so the 150amp torch is rated for more amps than your Dyn200 can give it.
water cooled is nice but not likely needed for home use. the air cooled torch will get the job done, if its gets too hot for your liking's then you can go to watter lots do but its just to be more comfortable. you can piece together a contractors kit for about $200 less than they sell for if you have the time and are willing to use the e-pay system. i put together a kit with flow meeter instead of flow gage for right around $270. nothing against the con. kit if you don't have the time or know what to look for its a good way to go. you can always add water cooled later and keep the air cooled torch for mobil work or the fast fix if you want, only the torch will be different all the rest of the stuff in the con. kit will still be used with water cooled system, so its not a big loss to get the air cooled stuff to try it out before going water cooled. it will give you a chance to decide for your self if you really feel the need for water cooled.

thanks for the help
......or..........
hope i helped feel free to shoot me an e-mail direct i have time to chat.james@newyorkmetalart.comsummer is here, plant a tree. if you don't have space or time to plant one sponsor some one else to plant one for you. a tree is an investment in our planet, help it out.
JAMES

somebody's not using their spellchecker
James, actually,thanks for the info. But..if I buy a air-cooled torch now, there is no way in heck, wife is going to let me buy ANOTHER torch later. Might as well by the good one now Weldcraft was coming out with a new water-torch in June, so I should see it at this upcoming tent sale.
bert